SEAT Mii

About SEAT
SEAT is the only company that designs, develops, manufactures and markets cars in Spain. A member of the Volkswagen Group, the multinational has its headquarters in Martorell (Barcelona), exporting 80% of its vehicles, and is present in over 80 countries through a network of 1,700 dealerships. In 2017, SEAT achieved worldwide sales of nearly 470,000 vehicles.

The SEAT Group employs close to 14,700 professionals at its three production centres – Barcelona, El Prat de Llobregat and Martorell, where it manufactures the highly successful Ibiza, Leon and Arona. Additionally, the company produces the Ateca and the Toledo in the Czech Republic, the Alhambra in Portugal and the Mii in Slovakia.

The multinational has a Technical Centre, which operates as a knowledge hub that brings together 1,000 engineers who are focused on developing innovation for Spain’s largest industrial investor in R&D. SEAT already features the latest connectivity technology in its vehicle range and is currently engaged in the company’s global digitalisation process to promote the mobility of the future.

SEAT Mii: at a glance

SEAT’s city car challenger is successor to the Arosa, which ceased production in 2004

Customer-friendly, simplified Mii model range introduced for 2018 offering a concise line-up with one body style, two powertrains and two high-spec’ equipment grades

Produced in the Volkswagen Group’s Bratislava production facility, Slovakia, alongside the Volkswagen up! and Skoda Citigo

Overview

Big car feel, small car bills

Brand new design crafted for modern city life

Exceptional quality throughout

Fun to drive yet extremely thrifty

Having achieved company record-breaking sales and market share in 2011, SEAT set itself up for an even better 2012 (which it subsequently achieved) with the introduction of the upbeat Mii city car. It came packaged perfectly to offer space for four adults and a generous boot (251 litres/951 litres with rear seats down), yet was sufficiently small on the outside to fully exploit tight parking spaces and gaps in traffic.

Although it only measures 3,557 mm long, clever packaging secured a 2,420 mm wheelbase – almost matching the previous generation Ibiza’s 2,469 mm. With its 1.0-litre, three-cylinder engine moved as far forward in the car as possible, the Mii has a large and flexible cabin and provides the stability and comfort of a much bigger car. It also has a compact turning circle of just 9.3 metres, another valuable attribute for a city car.

The Mii is powered by SEAT’s three-cylinder, 999 cc petrol engine, available with outputs of 60 PS and 75 PS. Built to deliver maximum efficiency, both versions of the engine achieve identical benchmark official fuel economy and CO2 emissions levels, at 64.2 mpg and 102 g/km.

Despite the focus on compactness and efficiency, the Mii is still a SEAT at heart, imbued with the sense of fun, sportiness and driving pleasure that are hallmarks of the brand. With a minuscule kerb weight of just 929 kg (including 75 kg allowance for driver and luggage), the chassis dynamics combine security and responsiveness in equal measure.

The Mii may be the most inexpensive model in the SEAT range, but it certainly does not cut corners on technology. A good example of this is standard provision of the Drive Mii app for smartphone integration. This comprises a universal smartphone cradle, TomTom satellite navigation, Eco Trainer, trip computer integration and in-phone media and radio control.

Small in size, not in strength
Space efficiency does not come at the expense of occupant protection; the Mii follows the same high safety standards applied to the whole SEAT range. The body shell is made up of a variety of steels: hot-formed, high strength, very high strength and ultra-high strength, used at crucial points throughout the shell, to maximise crash performance while minimising weight.

A high level of torsional rigidity (19,800 Nm/degree) plays a fundamental role in delivering not only impressive body shell strength but also optimal suspension performance, to the benefit of ride, handling and overall refinement.

Less weight, more efficiency
Reducing weight is a sure-fire way of improving both the performance and efficiency of a car, and the low mass body shell helps make the Mii an extremely efficient machine. In addition, its lightweight transmission, exhaust system and running gear, all housed in a very weight-efficient chassis, help bring down overall mass, substantially reducing fuel costs. Even the fuel tank, with 10 litres less than that in the Ibiza, makes a weight saving.

Safety first
A longstanding commitment to the highest safety standards has delivered a remarkable five-star Euro NCAP overall rating for the Mii, helped by the fitment of an anti-lock braking system (ABS) and four airbags across all models; the Mii really is in the big car league when it comes to safety.

ESC stability control is standard, while the innovative Safety Assist is a giant leap forward for city car safety, recognising one of the key risk factors in urban driving and providing a pragmatic solution at minimal cost. The system applies the brakes automatically when it detects an imminent collision with an object ahead – a rogue shopping trolley for example. It works at speeds below 19 mph.

Introducing the simplified SEAT Mii range
Launched for the 2018 model year, the Mii range adopted a new customer-friendly approach that makes choosing the right car easier than ever before. Multiple permutations of powertrain, equipment features and options have been simplified to create a targeted line-up that focuses on people’s proven preferences. The result is a slimmed-down range that couldn’t be easier to understand and navigate.

Thus, the revised Mii range offers a single, five-door body style and two equipment grades: Design Mii and Mii FR-Line. For each the standard specification has been maximised, while the options list runs to fewer than 10 items. Mii carries over its remarkable 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine, with Design Mii using the 60 PS version and the Mii FR-Line additionally available with the 75 PS unit.

The standard features list for both models is comprehensive, including body-coloured door handles, mirrors and bumpers and daytime running lights. The cabin benefits from air conditioning, height-adjustable steering wheel and driver’s seat, split-folding rear seat and a 12V socket in the centre console. The safety provisions include driver and front passenger airbags and side head-thorax airbags, front passenger airbag deactivation, front seatbelt reminders, electronic stability control (ESC), Hill Hold Control, ISOFIX child seat anchor points with top tethers and a tyre pressure monitor. The infotainment package comprises a six-speaker audio system, SD card slot and USB port with Apple chip. Remote central locking with deadlocks, power front windows and speed-sensitive electric power steering are also provided.

There is also a mightily impressive infotainment pack with colour screen radio, Bluetooth, and full smartphone integration with a universal phone cradle and the Drive Mii app with TomTom satellite navigation, trip computer, Eco Trainer to encourage efficient driving style and in-phone media and radio control. The specification also runs to electrically adjustable, heated door mirrors and leather steering wheel and gear knob trim.

The Design Mii specification puts the focus on building the model’s eye candy quotient with 14-inch alloys, rear privacy glass, LED daytime running lights and a choice of Black or White colour packs (co-ordinating the colour of the door mirror housings, wheels and door graphics). In the cabin the dashboard panel has a cool white insert.

The sport-oriented FR-Line comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights, and a black dash panel, while sports suspension – dropped by 15 mm from the standard height – gives a more dynamic feel behind the wheel. On the outside, two unique features distinguish it from the Design Mii: Atom Grey door mirrors and tasteful black door graphics. There are also halogen daytime running lights and aluminium front door sills bearing the FR-Line logo – branding that’s also featured on the key cover and cabin floor mats.

Five-door version adds versatility without losing any of the three-door’s style

Quality far beyond expectations in the segment

Technologically advanced, with a clear and functional interior

With compact overall dimensions an essential part of the Mii’s make-up, squeezing in the SEAT brand values – dynamic, design-driven and young-spirited – was a challenge for Head of Design Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos. Yet at first glance, it’s easy to see that he and his team in Martorell have succeeded.

It’s no secret that the Mii was developed alongside its sister cars, the Skoda Citigo and Volkswagen up!, and that the three share the majority of their exterior and interior parts – and that’s why SEAT’s design team worked hard to give the car a unique look and feel, both inside and out.

Exterior
Starting at the front, SEAT’s ‘arrow head’ signature design theme gives the Mii its distinctive face. The outside edges of the bonnet lead into the large and characterful headlights, themselves blending sophisticated design elements yet remaining aesthetically clean.

The flow of the arrow head design continues through to the trapezoidal grille, finished in black honeycomb and with a bold SEAT logo. Beneath this, the sharply defined bumper wraps around from beneath the headlights, sitting above twin lower grilles – both of which are thinner but also trapezoidal in shape.

This combination of elements at the front gives the Mii instant personality, a strong visual link with the rest of the SEAT range and an air of sophistication.

The side profile encapsulates what the Mii is all about: minimal overhangs, maximum cabin space yet with strength and solidity throughout. This is particularly evident in the character line that runs along the length of the body, giving the car significant depth and alluding to its physical strength.

The trapezoidal theme appears again in the rear bumper, which mirrors the design of the front bumper, with crisp lines that mate neatly with the C-pillar. The tail lights feature a triangular design, giving the Mii a unique rear signature, shown to its best effect, of course, at night.

The Mii’s lines are complimented by a palette of strong colours: non-metallic Sunflower Yellow and Tornado Red are available at no extra cost; options include solid White plus Deep Black, Chester Blue, Blueberry and Tungsten Silver metallics. To add even more impact, owners can choose a contrast coloured roof in Candy White or Deep Black, according to the body colour they have selected (the option is not available for all colours).

Interior
Making full use of available space is of paramount importance in a city car, and the Mii delivers this wholesale to create a car that is small on the outside, yet remarkably spacious inside. Allied to this is SEAT’s commitment to quality, witnessed in a cabin finished to a standard way above the norm in the city car segment.

Within a moment of sitting in the driver’s seat it is possible to understand the layout of the Mii; the instruments are crystal clear, with a large central speedometer that also houses the trip computer. The sporty, height-adjustable three-spoke steering wheel has carefully sculpted grips for comfort and control, while the most often-used major controls are all housed in a single dashboard unit positioned immediately left of the wheel, within very easy reach. The heating and ventilation dials, switchable Start/Stop system, hazard warning light switch, heated rear window switch and passenger airbag activation warning are grouped together, with the audio system neatly integrated below.

Close attention to mechanical downsizing and careful packaging give the Mii its remarkable interior space, comfortably accommodating four adults without compromising luggage capacity. The rear bench is positioned 72 mm higher than the front seats to provide more light and a clearer view for those in the back, particularly children. The front seats combine comfort and support, are lightweight and are fitted with integrated head restraints to ensure they suit all statures.

There is ample storage for oddments: the door panels can hold one-litre bottles, there are two cup holders in the front and two in the rear, a coat hook on the B-pillar, and the glove box has specific recesses for items such as coins, notepads and pens.

Even with four passengers on board, there is an ample 251 litres of boot space – more than some hatchbacks from the segment above – and quickly flipping the rear seats forward opens up an impressive 951 litres, easily accessible through the wide-opening hatch and low loading lip. A split-level floor system can create a loadspace that sits flush with the boot, making loading and unloading smaller items that little bit easier.

EnginesEngineered and optimised for lightweight efficiency

New 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine for Mii, available in two power outputs

Strict design approach for compact dimensions and very low weight

Both powertrains deliver impressive CO2 emissions of just 102g/km

Lightweight and compact five-speed manual transmission

SEAT’s goal for the Mii – to make it the perfect city car – demanded a compromise-free powertrain, so to that end SEAT’s engineers in Martorell assisted the Volkswagen Group in developing an entirely new engine for the car.

The result is a 999 cc, three-cylinder petrol unit of all-aluminium construction with 60 and 75 PS outputs. The three-cylinder configuration is an intelligent solution to the efficiency problem, reducing overall friction dramatically compared with an equivalent four-cylinder unit, and with a greater degree of mechanical sophistication for better performance.

Despite its size, the 1.0-litre unit contains a plethora of intelligent engineering features: variable valve timing on the intake side benefits performance, emissions and low-down torque; optimisation of the connecting rods and pistons has removed the need for weighty balancer shafts with no compromise in terms of smoothness; the exhaust manifold is integrated with the cylinder head to achieve very fast warm up from cold, but also more efficient exhaust gas cooling at normal operating temperatures for the lowest possible emissions.

Extra attention has been given to critical components. For example, most of the ancillary components are bolted directly to the crankcase, forgoing the need for an ancillary drive bracket, thus reducing weight and complexity. Particular attention was also paid to the crankshaft, which features six counterweights rather than the usual four. Not only does this ensure extra longevity for the engine, it also achieves such refinement that there is no need for noise insulation on the underside of the bonnet.

1.0 12V 60 PS
The entry level Mii engine offers a healthy 60 PS at 6,000 rpm, with a peak torque of 95 Nm at 3,000 rpm. Ninety per cent of peak torque is available from only 2,000 rpm, giving the Mii the required urge to stay with the flow of brisk urban traffic. Benchmark 0-62 mph acceleration is accomplished in 14.4 seconds, while a top speed of 99 mph is more than sufficient for the motorway. A combined fuel consumption of figure of 64.2 mpg equates to an impressive 102 g/km CO2 rating.

1.0 12V 75 PS
The more powerful Mii engine delivers its 75 PS maximum output at 6,200 rpm, with peak torque of 95 Nm developed between 3,000 rpm and 4,300 rpm. The extra power is sufficient to shave more than a second from the 0-62 mph time, down to 13.2 seconds, while top speed is increased to 106 mph. Despite the increased performance, combined cycle fuel consumption and C02 emissions match the 60 PS unit at 64.2 mpg and 102 g/km respectively.

Five-speed manual transmission
Designed specifically for the Mii’s three-cylinder engine, the five-speed manual transmission has an aluminium casing weighing just 3 kg, while measures such as calculated wall thickness and strength ribbing save another 400 g, and a hollow driveshaft also shaves precious grams. The result is an overall weight of just 25 kg, and with the clutch included it measures only 340mm long and 460mm wide.

Fifth gear is optimised to give comfortable cruising at higher speeds and maximise economy, and the standard gearshift advisor, displayed on the instrument panel, encourages the driver to shift at the right moment for best efficiency.

Running gearEngineered for maximum comfort and efficiency in every area

Suspension perfectly balances comfort and dynamic feel

Electro-hydraulic steering system makes tight turns a doddle

With all the work that went into designing an ultra-light and compact engine for the Mii, the running gear needed to be developed with the same goals and attention to detail. Every element of the SEAT’s city car’s drivetrain has been refined and optimised for the perfect balance between comfort and engaging dynamics, as well as durability.

Suspension
For high levels of control and compactness the Mii features MacPherson struts with wishbones at the front, and it’s fixed in place using a new sub-frame design, for maximum refinement. Manufactured from high strength steel just 1.8 mm thick, the sub-frame ties together the steering rack and anti-roll bar, bringing rigidity, control and improved suspension performance, especially in the area of noise transfer.

At the rear an optimised torsion beam layout was chosen, giving accurate and reliable control with minimal space intrusion and mass. The sports suspension that’s standard on FR-Line brings stiffer spring and damper tuning while also lowering the car by 15 mm all round for reduced roll and a lower centre of gravity.

Brakes
The braking system features a 14-inch ventilated disc set-up at the front, which not only delivers the required braking performance, but also offers a weight saving of 1.5 kg over previous systems of the same diameter. As well as reducing the overall weight of the vehicle, the new lightweight system reduces unsprung mass for better dynamic performance.

At the rear, there is a simple lightweight drum brake set-up, while the servo assistance has a two-stage operation to cater for normal driving and emergency situations; the latter stage reduces the amount of pedal effort required to call upon maximum braking force.

All Mii models are equipped with ABS and Hill Hold Control as standard, together with electronic stability control (ESC), a proven life-saving technology.

Steering
For the most desirable balance between driver feel and low fuel consumption, the Mii has an electro-hydraulic power steering system. This automatically reduces the amount of assistance at higher speeds to give greater firmness and control, while at low speeds maximum assistance is applied, demanding minimum effort from the driver. A carefully mapped self-centring action is incorporated into the system for added driver confidence, and the high ratio steering rack only requires 2.9 turns from lock to lock.

Safety and securityThe peace of mind of a five-star safety rating, despite its size

Awarded five stars by Euro NCAP

Safety Assist brings a revolution in urban safety

Four airbags; ABS and ESC standard across the range

Safety is a core design principle for all SEAT models, with the ultimate goal of providing maximum protection for occupants and pedestrians, regardless of the car’s dimensions.

Euro NCAP: a five-star car
This dedication to safety resulted in a maximum five-star result (tested in 2011) in the exacting Euro NCAP crash tests for the Mii, making it one of the safest cars in its class. The rating includes an 89% score for adult occupant protection, 80% for child occupant protection, and 86% for safety assistance features.

Key features include the standard fitment of side head-thorax and front airbags for both driver and passenger. An anti-lock braking system (ABS) is standard across the range, as are front seatbelt pre-tensioners, seatbelt reminders for front and rear, and ISOFIX child seat anchorage points in the rear with three-point belts on all seats. A top tether system is also fitted, giving the increased security of a third anchorage point for child seats.

The Mii’s lightweight philosophy contributes to its manoeuvrability which is a fundamental principle of active safety, but further reassurance is provided by electronic stability control (ESC), fitted as standard on every trim level.

Safety Assist
SEAT Safety Assist is a major innovation for the city car segment and a huge step forward for urban safety, available on every Mii. The system uses a radar mounted behind the rear-view mirrors to automatically monitor the road ahead (up to a distance of 10 metres) when travelling at speeds up to 19 mph.

If an imminent collision is detected, Safety Assist will prime the braking system for maximum stopping force. If the driver continues to make no effort to slow the car – a common occurrence at low speeds where inattention is a key factor – the brakes will be applied automatically. At the very least this will reduce the severity of any impact, but Safety Assist is also capable of preventing an accident altogether and bringing the car to a halt before impact, depending on the conditions.

When the system is in full activation the driver has the option to override its operation instantaneously by steering, pressing the clutch or accelerator pedal; it can also be disabled entirely using a button on the centre console, when required. Safety Assist is available as an option on Design Mii and FR-Line models.

Security features
Every Mii is equipped with a rolling code immobiliser and remote central locking with deadlocks. The VIN is visible through the windscreen and an anti-theft antenna and locking fuel cap are standard. Locking wheel bolts are fitted where alloy wheels are standard equipment.

The trend towards downsizing means drivers are expecting more from small cars, not only in terms of space and refinement – qualities the Mii has in spades – but technology too. The Mii offers the technology demanded by an increasingly discerning public.

Smartphone integration with Drive Mii app
Replacing the former SEAT Portable Live system, is a sleek and modern universal smartphone cradle with a new Drive Mii app, which combines TomTom satellite navigation, Eco Trainer, trip computer integration and in-phone media and radio control.

DAB digital radio
Thanks to the availability of DAB as an option, the clarity of digital radio reception can be enjoyed in every Mii, with a system that is integrated seamlessly into the radio unit.

OwnershipAmazingly cost-effective, yet packed with standard equipment

Extremely attractive insurance costs and fixed price servicing

Comprehensive warranty cover

Low-impact motoring is arguably more important in the city car sector than in any other, as buyers seek the most cost-efficient car ownership experience possible, in all areas. The Mii demonstrates SEAT’s relentless commitment to all aspects of efficiency: keen purchase price, low fuel costs, attractive insurance premiums, and high resale value.

Insurance groups/BIK and VED bands
As well as being priced so as to make it one of the best value city cars on the market, the Mii continues to be a joy on the financial front throughout ownership, thanks to low repair costs, innovative safety features and robust security. The majority of the Mii range falls into the lowest possible insurance grouping – a hugely significant factor for younger drivers.